Burial-vault.



2 SHEETS-SHEBT I.

PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

J. W. PETTIBONE.

BURIAL VAULT.

APPLIGATION rum) T313. 24, 1904.

no MODEL.

v f 1c;

wwnwwo No. 766,283. PATENTED AUG. 2, 190$ J. W. PETTIBONE.

BURIAL VAULT.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 24. 1904.

no MODEL. 2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

: II a ll! UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1 904.

PATENT OFFICE- JAMES WV. PETTIBONE, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO \VILLIAM BUR K, OF MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, M ICHIGAN, ANI) \VILLIAh I H. SMl'll'l, OF MUSKEGON, MICI'IIGAN, DOING BUSINESS AS BURK & SMITH, OF MUSKEGON, MILHIGAN, A FIRM.

BURlAL-VAULT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,283, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed February 24,1904. Serial No. 195,089. (No model.)

To all 10/1. om, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES IV. PETTIBONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muskegon, county of Muskegon, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial-Vaults, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cemetery-vaults, mausoleums, sarcophagi, or other similar structures, and has for its objects simplicity of handling, ease in assembling, and rigidity of structure when assembled.

Other objects will be more specifically elaborated upon in the specification and the construction therein set forth fully.

The novel features are embodied in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of one of the middle sections. Fig. 4 represents an inside elevation of one of the end sections. Fig. 5 is a transverse section therethrough. Fig. 6 is a transverse section through one of the middle sections. Fig. '7 is an end view of one of the top slabs, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing modifica tion of my invention.

The device is composed of a plurality of units orscctions 1 of molded cement or other suitable material constituting sides and bottom of the device.

2 represents end sections having sides, bottom, and an end covering, all made from one integral piece of material. The end section is provided with dovetail apertures 3, running from the top to the bottom of the sides and constituting the female portion of a dovetail joint. Intersecting these apertures 3 are halfapertures a, running along the upper side of the bottom. The end covering of the device, which, as already stated, is integral with the sides of said end section, is provided with a similar aperture 5, which also constitutes the female portion of a dovetail joint, and intersecting this at either end thereof are similar apertures 6, extending only the width of the sections. Each section is provided at its upper portion with an outwardly-flaring portion 7 for the reception of this aperture 6. Each middle section is provided with dowel-pins 8, and the end sections are provided with dowelpins 9, adapted to enter apertures 10 in each abutting section, whereby said sections are temporarily locked in position until they are more permanently secured by the cement joint, which will hereinafter be more clearly described.

The middle sections comprise sides and bottoms similar to the end sections, only omitting the end covering portion. These sections are provided with dovetail apertures 11 on either side thereof running from the top to the bottom of said sections and constituting, as in the end sections, the female portion of a dovetail joint. Intersecting these at right angles, the same as in the end section, are half-apertures 12 on either side of said sections, which are adapted to register with the half-apertures 4L of the end sections and on the opposite side with the half-apertures of the middle sections. The apertures 11 are also adapted to register with the apertures 3 of the end sections, so as to form a completed aperture. Each of these middle sections has a flared-out portion 13, which corresponds to the flared-out portion 7 of the end sections and which is adapted to receive the female portion 11 of a dovetail joint which registers with an aperture corresponding in shape to the apertures 6 of the end sections. These sections are multiplied one beside the other until the required length is attained for the size of the corpse to occupy it and are shipped to the cemetery or place of burial in a knockdown form.

The top of the device is composed of a number of slabs or plates 15, which are provided along their end side near the side edges with apertures 16, which correspond in shape and are adapted to register with the apertures let of the middle and end sections, and intersecting these and running along the end edges are correspondingly-shaped apertures 17, which are adapted to register with the apertures 5 of the end sections. On the upper side of each top slab are half-apertures 18, adapted when the slabs are placed together to form the entire female portion of the dovetail joint.

These slabs or plates 15 are provided with holes 19, adapted to register with the apertures 14, so that fluid cement may be poured therethrough to lock the tops in engagement with the end and middle sections, thus hermetically sealing the vault. The locking means might be any other material than cement, and I do not wish to be limited thereto, for any fluid substance which would congeal and harden after it was in place would do in place thereof.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 there is shown a subtop 20, having beveled edges 21, adapted to enter cut-out portions 22 in the end and middle sections. This subtop is adapted to loosely engage these cut-out portions, so that cement or other fluid material may be inserted therein, so as to form a perfectly-tight joint. The cover 15 is placed over the subtop 20 and secured in the same manner as before, thus making a doubly-secured vault.

It will of course be understood that the sarcophagi may be made in any size and adapted for use with children as well as adults.

The advantages of the device are almost too numerous to mention, there being the one distinct advantage of ease of transportation. I am well aware of the fact that sectional vaults have been patented; but the parts were so illy associated, clumsy, and hard to handle that the exertions of a number of men were required to assemble the device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A cemetery-vault composed of unitary sections, each unit comprising sides and bottom, and means for locking said sections, side by side, to form a vault.

2. A cemetery-vault composed of unitary sections, each unit comprising sides and bottom and provided with apertures, and means engaging said apertures for locking said sec tions together to form a vault.

3. A cemetery-vault composed of unitary sections, each unit comprising sides and bottom and provided with vertical apertures, means engaging said apertures for locking said sections together to forma vault, said sections also provided with horizontal apertures, top slabs having apertures adapted to register with said horizontal apertures, and means for locking said top slabs and said sections together.

4:. A cemetery-vault composed of unitary sections, each unit comprising sides and bottom and provided with apertures, means for engaging said apertures whereby each unit is locked to the succeeding unit, top slabs having apertures adapted to register with apertures in said sections, and means for engaging said apertures in the top slab and the apertures just before mentioned whereby said top slabs are locked to said sections.

5. A cemetery-vault comprising upright middle sections having apertures on either side thereof adapted to register with each other, when placed side by side, end sections having corresponding apertures adapted to register with said middle-section apertures, a flaring portion provided on said sections and having an aperture in the flaring portion, a top having apertures registering with the apertures of the flaring portion, and means for engaging all the said apertures whereby the side and end sections are locked in position and the top is locked in engagement with said sections.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES W. PETTIBONE.

Witnesses:

GEORGE D. VANDERWERP, EDW. S. LYMAN. 

